April 14 Issue by Inweekly

APRIL 14, 2011 | Volume 12 | Number 14 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

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Contents columns

3 Winners & Losers 4 OUttakes

24 news of the weird 27 LAST WORD

news/features/arts

6 News: ESCAMBIA COUNTY LEADS IN GREEN INITIATIVES 9 CoVER STORY: IN’s 50 Best Places To Eat Right Now 17 A&E: Comedian Doug Benson Performs at Seville Quarter 18 A&E: Fine Wine, Fine Art 21 culture: Blue Morning Gallery Steps Up 23 Music: Ska Lives 24 The Public Record

2 | INDEPENDENT NEWS |

april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bradley “B.J.” Davis, Jr., Joani Delezen, Hana Frenette, Ashley Hardaway, Rob “Bubbs” Harris, Catrina, Hebert, Erica House, Brett Hutchins, Chelsa Jillard, Jennie McKeon, Kate Peterson, Scott, Satterwhite, Chuck Shepard, Will Strickland, Trevor Webb production manager Joani Delezen ART DIRECTor Samantha Crooke Sales Director Jennifer Passeretti

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.

P.O. Box 12082 • Pensacola, Fla. 32591 850-438-8115 • 1-866-724-9396 Fax: 850-438-0228 • info@inweekly.net

Standard postage paid at Pensacola, Fla. All stories are compiled from press releases, submissions, news wires or assignments. Comments and opinions expressed in this newspaper represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and are not necessarily those of INDEPENDENT NEWS or the publisher. Neither the advertiser nor the publisher is responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, typographical errors, etc., contained in INDEPENDENT NEWS. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.

winners & losers

winners

Joe Passeretti

JOE PASSERETTI The partner of Emmanuel Sheppard and Condon has been elected as the First Judicial Circuit representative for the Florida Bar Board of Governors, Young Lawyer Division. The mission of the Florida Bar Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division is to serve as an advocate and resource for its affiliates and members—all young lawyers or newly-admitted members to The Florida Bar. The 2010 IN Rising Star practices in the fields of Construction Litigation, Products Liability Litigation, Contract/Commercial Litigation and Employment Law Litigation. WESLEY GREENE The Pensacola State College

student has been named a 2011 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Gold Scholar. Selection as a Coca-Cola Gold Scholar is based on scores earned in the AllUSA Community College Academic Team competition. Greene, who also was recently named a 2011 Guistwhite Scholarship recipient, will receive a $1,500 stipend and a special medallion. All Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Scholars were listed in the April 11 issue of USA Today.

UWF LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION STUDENTS

These University of West Florida students raised $17,762 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. In addition, they created a commemorative walkway on campus to honor the university’s community spirit. The walkway will be unveiled in a dedication ceremony April 20 at 4 p.m. near Building 36, which houses the Department of Communication Arts on the UWF campus.

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losers

ARC GATEWAY PENSACOLA The local non-

profit that serves more than 800 clients with Down Syndrome, mental retardation and autism throughout Escambia County had to lay off staff and eliminate in-home support, day care and supported living services because Gov. Rick Scott’s March 31 executive order required ARC Gateway to undergo a minimum 15 percent cut in payments to providers funded through the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

SACRED HEART HOSPITAL The state budget

news for the hospital wasn’t much better. The Florida Senate approved a $69.8 billion budget proposal that slashed nearly $1 billion in Medicaid reimbursements to the state’s 15 safety-net hospitals that are required by law to treat the poor and uninsured, which includes Sacred Heart. The proposed budget includes a 35 percent rollback in Medicaid reimbursement rates, which will cost Sacred Heart in Pensacola more than $15 million.

THELMA MANLEY The former Front Porch

Pensacola director failed to get her 10year prison sentence reduced to six years. Manley, age 52, was sentenced in September 2009 to 10 years in prison and 10 years on probation for misusing $164,000 from Front Porch’s coffers for her personal benefit. The request for the lighter sentence cited Manley’s lack of a criminal record and an undue burden placed on her family as a result of her conviction. Circuit Judge Ron Swanson wasn’t swayed.

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INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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to make WMS the district’s premier middle school, made the investigation even more important. Teachers and parents seldom speak to media. What made the WMS investigation possible were the detailed reports and interview notes of District Investigator John Dobbs, the offense and information reports of the school resource officers and Florida’s public record laws. The truth is Superintendent Malcolm Thomas made a colossal blunder firing former Principal Christine Nixon and her staff. Had the same funds and efforts been put into her team that Sandra Rush and her crew received, we might have seen a significant improvement at WMS. Instead, the school lost its momentum—the school had gone from a “D” to “C” prior to the turnover— and struggled to maintain order for most of the 2009-10 school year. Thomas’ intentions may have been good, but his execution fell far short, putting teachers and students at risk. Our hope with the article was that the Escambia County School Board would address what happened at Warrington Middle School and look at what is happening in the middle and high schools across the district. Since publishing the article, parents and teachers have come forward with similar problems at other schools. Unfortunately, King Thomas and the “lords and ladies” of the school board have circled the wagons and denied there is a problem. When the king refuses to listen to the fool, it may be time to get a new king.

Unfortunately, King Thomas and the “lords and ladies” of the school board have circled the wagons and denied there is a problem.

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briskie talks about aspiring to be the fool. She told the audience at a recent program at the University of West Florida, “There are kings and their courts, filled with ladies, nobles and advisors. Then there is that unique one—the fool—whose job is not just to advise, but to tell the truth. He must know the king well enough to somehow tell him the truth.” She went on to say, “I do aspire to be that fool, trying to figure out somehow to say the truth, to spend time watching, listening, paying attention and trying to see things as they really are.” At the IN, we strive to tell truth. The mission of our investigative reporting is to shine light into the dark corners of this community, that we so dearly love, so that we can openly, honestly and vigorously work to deal with the issues holding this area back. Our story on Warrington Middle School (Independent News, “Tarnished Turnaround,” April 7) was a rare look inside a dysfunctional, inner-city school. It’s not often that school administration is investigated for funds being mishandled, an apparent fundraising scam, sexual misconduct by students on a bus with no adult chaperone, and of assaults on teachers and other violence going undocumented by school officials–all in the same school year. The fact that Superintendent Malcolm Thomas had completely gutted the faculty, pumped millions of dollars into the school and declared his “dream team,” which was directly under his supervision, was going

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INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

news

ESCAMBIA COUNTY LEADS IN GREEN INITIATIVES

CITY OF PENSACOLA LAGS BEHIND

By Dustin Toney

utler Bay offers incentives to encourage environmentally friendly building practices within the town and utilizes timers and energy efficient lighting on its sports fields. By the beginning of 2008, Dunedin converted 23 traffic signal lights to LED—the city saves $23,000 annually on average. Tarpon Springs has written an ordinance to promote water and energy conservation in landscaping. The town optimizes shading and protects growth of local plants. Tarpon Springs Police Department only fires lead-free bullets at its range. The officers pick up and recycle casings and bullet residue. These Florida towns have all received silver certification by the Florida Green Building Coalition’s Green Local Government Designation program. FGBC follows an outline that examines governments’ performance in a number of fields, including energy, water, air, land and waste. An example of a “gold” city would be Tallahassee, who educates staff and elected officials about methods of energy efficiency and offers green power, renewable energy credits and incentives to distribute power. Where does Pensacola fall in the rankings? It doesn’t qualify for certification from the FGBC. Unlike Orlando, Sarasota, Tamarac, Deland, Jacksonville and so many other Florida cities that received recognition, Pensacola does not have a long-term environmental plan. There is no one person who oversees the development of sustainable practices and policies. “It’s not like we have to reinvent anything,” City Councilwoman Sherri Myers told the IN. “Model programs are already out there.” Despite the wide array of available information, Pensacola has not utilized any of it. Myers continued, “There is tons of information out there, there are all of these models out there, but we don’t have anybody at the city level to implement them. We got rid of our environmental coordinator.” Myers claims the city spends millions of dollars on golf courses and tennis courts. She asks why the city isn’t putting any money towards reforestation and improving the quality of products the city uses to improve human health. She would like to see the city strive for the FGBC’s gold certification and

6 | INDEPENDENT NEWS |

tor is expected to be added to the plant, which will save roughly another $300,000 annually. In addition, Wilkins told the IN that the county is currently looking into old landfills for solar panel fields. If so, it would generate more electricity than the county would need for its public purposes, and the electrical excess would then be added back to the grid. “A lot of these projects cost more upfront but save money down the road,” Wilkins told the IN. “Getting the money upfront for improvement-type projects is difficult. Money is scarce, and the payoff is several years down the road. We received a $1.5 million grant from BP for the office complex.”

PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE SHOWS GREEN GAINS

mental considerations taken into account during the construction of the office complex. “Also last year, we did the ribboncutting for the landfill-gas-toenergy project in Perdido,” said Keith Wilkins, Escambia County’s deputy chief of neighborhood and community services.

“It’s not like we have to reinvent anything. Model programs are already out there.” —City Councilwoman Sherri Myers focus on issues that many cities in Florida have been addressing.

COUNTY GOES GREEN

Escambia County, however, has been focusing on improving its building standards and its consumption of energy. Last November, the county completed its Central Office Complex, which has 79,000 square feet of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold-certified construction. The buildings are covered by one of Florida’s largest green roof systems. The complex even has bicycle racks to allow residents and employees to ride their bikes to and from work. Thirty-four percent of the building materials were purchased from local and neighboring vendors. Ninety-five percent of construction waste was recycled. This is just to name a few of many environ-

april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

“A lot of these projects cost more upfront but save money down the road.” —Keith Wilkins, Escambia County’s deputy chief of neighborhood and community services “We are capturing the methane gas that the landfill produces. In a partnership with Gulf Power, we generate electricity by burning that gas.” By feeding that energy back into the grid, the county saves between $800,000 to $1.2 million a year. A fourth genera-

“Four years ago we started a project to replace all of our old, inefficient heating and air conditioning equipment,” said Pensacola State College (PSC) Physical Plant Director Walt Winter. “It was around $6 million and took us four years, but by doing this we are now seeing savings of 20 percent on our utilities.” That’s roughly $600,000 a year. In addition, the new PSC building to be built in Midway surpasses the state’s standards in environmentally-friendly requirements and will be LEED silver-certified. “The janitorial service that we use only uses healthier products rather than the harsh chemicals. We recycle all of our used oil from the vehicles. We recycle light bulbs,” explained Winter. “Four years ago, PSC didn’t recycle, but now the company we use will recycle almost anything except garbage and Styrofoam. Everything else can be put into one container.” According to Winter, the biggest hold back for more upgrades is money, but he states that there are many ways to reduce energy on a personal level. Although a lot of the lighting on campus is now timed, there are still many ways employees and students can reduce energy costs. “If people will turn their computer monitors and lights off during lunch, they will save tremendously,” said Winter. “The big challenge is getting everyone on the bandwagon.” info@inweekly.net

buzz

What? Me worry?

WMS SAGA: SEX AND FCAT The Warrington Middle School saga (Independent News, “Tarnished Turnaround,” April 7) continues as more parents and teachers come forward. The IN received details about allegations of oral sex in a classroom while the teacher was present and another teacher not teaching the curriculum, but instead using class time to prepare for Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. When District Investigator John Dobbs reported on the sexual misconduct on a school bus loaded with basketball players and band members without a chaperone, he interviewed the band teacher, Charles Rogers. Dobbs wrote that Rogers wasn’t aware of any reported misconduct involving the female student from the bus incident, but “said that he had heard allegations of some misconduct in the band storage area, and due to the limited space in that area, discounted the allegation as false.”

A parent of a band student shared what Rogers is referring to: A female student (same one that was on the bus) performed oral sex in a partitioned area in the back of the band classroom. Rogers was notified by a student when it was happening, but instead told the student to sit down and shut up, according to the parent. When the bus incident happened, several band parents confronted Rogers about the prior incident, which may be how Dobbs found out about it. The other report IN received is how an American History class was converted to preparation for the math portion of the FCAT test. “I was upset, because my daughter knows her math,” said the parent. “She was only taught American History about two months out of the year.” This story matches what LCDR (ret.) Thomas Jones, another parent interviewed for our April 7 cover story, told the IN about how the sixth graders were constantly being drilled on FCAT instead of the class subjects. “My son was doing FCAT reading (prep) before Thanksgiving,” said Jones. “By January he was begging his teacher if he could do something fun that day.” How well did WMS do on the FCAT last year? Ten percent more of the students met high standards in math, but that was offset by the lowest 25 percent making fewer gains, from 74 to 69 percent. American History isn’t tested by the FCAT.

HOW SANTA ROSA SCHOOLS HANDLE CRIME The IN interviewed Bill Emerson, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Santa Rosa County Public School District, about the School Environmental Safety Inci-

dent Report (SESIR) and how his schools report incidents to law enforcement. “The way we view it is there are two things that happen when a kid gets into trouble,” said Emerson. “The first responsibility we have is to investigate regarding the school’s involvement. If that investigation leads to a possible violation of the law, then we notify law enforcement and then it’s their case. “We’re not trying to decide if it’s legal or illegal. If we think it’s on the line, we notify law enforcement. They come in and make that judgment.” Based on the SESIR report from the Florida Department of Education, the Santa Rosa County schools reported in the 200910 school year over 86 percent of its campus crime and violence to law enforcement. For the more serious incidents, the reporting percentage to the law was 92 percent. Escambia County only reported 32 percent to law enforcement, and only 38 percent of the more serious types of incidents. After the IN investigation into Warrington Middle School was published, Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh wrote on his blog, jeffbergoshblog. blogspot.com, that the IN was “hurling new allegations our way that are incorrect regarding protocols for SESIR reporting.” He wrote that a special board meeting had been set for April 14, 3 p.m. to prove the paper wrong. “I can say that to the best of my knowledge on our campuses if crimes are committed and discovered–these crimes are reported, that is the law and it aligns with our school board policies on reporting of such incidents,” wrote Bergosh. The IN asked Emerson about Santa Rosa’s policies. “Based on our code of conduct, there are some instances in which law enforcement is contacted,” said Emerson. “When we have an issue, the school pulls up the code to see what we’re going to do. If it says notify law enforcement, then they do so.”

Emerson said that he wasn’t aware of any complaints from parents about the district being too strict on reporting incidents to law enforcement.

GUN-TOTING STUDENTS The 2010 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey tracks the trends on delinquent behavior among public school students at the middle and high school levels. The study shows that 6.1 percent of Escambia County high school students admitted to carrying a handgun in the past 12 months, and one of three of those students said that they taken a handgun to school. Nearly 13 percent of the high school students and 11 percent of the middle schoolers stated that they had attacked someone in the past 12 months with the intent to harm.

BROWNSVILLE DEAL STILL OPEN The sale of Brownsville Middle School failed to make the April agenda for the Escambia County School Board. In January, George Hawthorne and Superintendent Malcolm Thomas announced that the school, which had been closed since 2007, would be sold to Hawthorne’s company for $1 million. In November 2010, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church offered $500,000 for the property, but Thomas refused to bring it before the school board. The superintendent reportedly also has an offer from Ever’man Natural Foods for the district’s End User Support building on Garden Street. The cooperative has offered $450,000 for the building, according to our sources. Thomas has refused to bring that offer to the board. Apparently, there is an appraisal from 2008 that has it valued at $650,000. Superintendent Thomas hasn’t announced his plans for the schools that will be closed this summer: Spencer Bibbs, Hallmark and Allie Yniestra.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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For our 2011 Annual Spring EAT! Issue, IN staff, with a little help from some anonymous foodies, have put together the first ever "Top 50 Places to Eat Right Now"--according to us--based on food execution, staff, atmosphere and how the meal quality falls in line with cost. No one has ever attempted to put together such a list until now. Dining is inescapably subjective. For some, a sublime meal is one with white linens on the table. For others, it’s a storefront run by an ambitious young chef eager to make his mark, while some find their bliss in comfort foods or a well-run chain restaurant. All of these experiences are represented on this list. Some of you will love it. Some of you will hate it. But alas, dear readers, you'll have your chance to tell us YOUR favorites in our 2011 Best of the Coast Readers Poll coming up later this summer. Believe us, it was tough to narrow down our favorite joints to 50, but we had to cut it off somewhere.

600 South Italian Eatery & Wine Bar

600 S. Palafox, 434-6320, 600southpalafox.com Why We Love It: Its new menu, which features several Italian tapas, has attracted attention, but 600 South’s Sunday brunch is what put the restaurant on this list. 600 South Staff Recommends: Panko and Herb Crusted Grouper ($12 Small, $20 Entrée) Served over linguini with homemade marinara and served with tomato jam

which come raw, baked or steamed. Atlas Oyster House Staff Recommends: Sushi. Atlas serves half-price sushi every Tuesday night from 5-10 p.m., featuring $2 domestic draft pints.

Bagelhead's

916 E. Gregory St., 444-9661 Why We Love It: Even if the bagels and

Aegean Breeze

913 Gulf Breeze Parkway, # 20, Gulf Breeze, 916-0430 Why We Love It: The best Greek restaurant in the Pensacola area is in Gulf Breeze. You can’t go wrong with any of the seafood, but we love the Seafood Mykonos. The steaks and lamb are excellent, too. The setting is homey, and the wait staff is friendly and attentive.

Blackwater Bistro

5147 Elmira St., Milton, 623-1105, blackwaterbistro.com Why We Love It: This Milton restaurant has made its mark since opening in 2009. All of the sandwiches, wraps and salads are excellent, but we can’t resist the Blackened Grouper. Blackwater Bistro Staff Recommends: Pecan Crusted Grouper ($18.95) Fresh grouper filet covered and baked with Renfroe's Fancy Fresh Crushed Pecans and topped with a mornaise sauce and served with a pair of country sides

Blue Dot Barbecue

The Atlas Oyster House

600 S. Barracks St., 470-0003, goodgrits.com Why We Love It: When The Fish House is packed, turn left at the hostess stand and enjoy its sister restaurant. You can partake in all of the menu items from The Fish House, but we go to Atlas for the oysters,

coffee weren’t great, we would recommend this place for its view of Pensacola Bay. Fortunately, it’s also a great place for breakfast or lunch, with friends or alone, to read the latest copy of the IN.

Oysters from The Atlas Oyster House

310 N. De Villiers St., 432-0644 Why We Love It: You go here for the burgers. Stand in line at the counter, place your order, and sit on a picnic bench to wait for the best hamburger in Pensacola to be handed to you in a brown paper bag. That’s how the locals do it.

Bonefish Grill

5025 N. 12th Ave., 471-2324, bonefishgrill.com Why We Love It: This chain restaurant doesn’t feel like one. The seafood menu is extensive. Here is our dream dinner: Appetizer-Bang Bang Shrimp; Soup-Corn Chowder with Lump Crab; Entrée-Chilean Sea Bass with warm Mango Salsa; and Dessert-Key Lime Pie.

Cactus Flower Cafe

3425 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, 432-8100; 3309 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, 458-3833; and 8725 Ortega Park Drive, Navarre, 936-4111; cactusflowercafe.net Why We Love It: California-style Mexican food never tasted so good. A great change from the other uninspired Mexican eateries in the area. This place is always crowded, particularly the Ninth Avenue location, so take an early or late lunch to avoid the crowd.

Chet's Seafood

3708 W. Navy Blvd., Pensacola, 456-0165; 3601 U.S. 90, Pace, 994-3299 Why We Love It: Best fried mullet dinner in the Pensacola area. You want to get there before the banana pudding runs out. INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

Vegan 4-1-1 Going Vegan at Every Corner

Elise

By Sarah Kathleen McCartan

Oh Snap! Cupcakes

ver the course of the past decade, eating vegetarian (eliminating meat from one’s diet) and vegan (eliminating all forms of animal products from one’s diet) has become less a fleeting trend and more a way of life. No longer do the excuses of accessibility or affordability fly. Both local and corporate businesses are shifting their ways and becoming more adaptable to the growing concern for health in addition to specific dietary needs. Although it has been a slow process, most places have jumped on board to some extent. Whether you're a vegan looking for a new bite, or someone with the urge to break out of a daily lunch break routine, here is a quick look at a few choice staple eateries plus a few surprise establishments that are sure to make your mouth water. Although Pensacola’s vegetarian and vegan selections extend beyond the city limits, all selected mentions are located conveniently within or in close proximity to downtown and East Hill.

The Staples

Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant: Last year’s move to its new location in the

heart of downtown paired with its heightened focus on food have enabled Sluggo’s to become a landmark for vegan eating in the area, not to mention a favored watering hole and longstanding venue. Whether picking up lunch on the go, sticking around for tofu dog happy hour or bringing the family in for dinner, patrons are guaranteed to not go home hungry. End of the Line Cafe: More than just a small coffee shop, this establishment acts as a full-service café and now features all organic ingredients. In addition to the daily menu, Thursday night dinners and Sunday brunches are both multi-course dining experiences that have come to attract quite the crowd. Ever’man Natural Foods: The recent addition of patio tables has allowed for Ever’man to gradually become more of a place to stick around and eat. If you are short on time, the Grab-N-Go case mirrors larger nationally-known health food stores by offering an expansive selection of wraps, salads and snacks you can sneak back into work with you. “It’s encouraging to see local businesses coming to us for organic ingredients and meat alternatives to incorporate into their menus,” stated Alexa Reed, Customer Service Representative.

The Newbies

The Leisure Club: TLC has quickly made its mark serving freshly roasted Intelligentsia coffee along with a flood of delicious gourmet cuisine. “The menu is constantly growing due to our customer demand, and the feedback from local vegans and vegetarians has been great.

Every vegan has experienced going to dinner with omnivore friends and family and struggled to find something to eat other than a bland side salad,” shared TLC barista Sara Beard. Oh Snap! Cupcakes: In just a short time on the scene Oh Snap! has established itself as a one-stop dessert shop. Although selections change daily, typically you can get your hands on a vegan red velvet cupcake and will not be disappointed. The vegan and gluten-free options go fast, so get there early.

The Welcomed Surprises

Faster Food: Everyone knows that although eating late may seem like a crime, it happens to the best of us at some point. The reassuring news is that Whataburger offers its own veggie burger. Try it fully involved with hash brown sticks. Thinking Irish: Although at first glance McGuire’s Irish Pub seems nothing but meat and potatoes, with just a little thought and creativity one can enjoy a full plate of nachos skipping the dairy and meat and adding a vegan staple–peanut butter. Pizza Time: Local pizza eatery Ozone Pizza Pub now offers dairy-free Daiya cheese on their pizzas. Drop in Monday nights for half off large vegan pizzas to enjoy with friends. If you prefer a more low-key atmosphere, Elbow Room, located slightly west of downtown, also offers vegan cheese on their spread of pizzas and sandwiches. Although hard to narrow it down to these mentions, all of these locales are prime evidence that vegan eating does not have to be code for settling for a bland salad or being forced into a dining experience with limited options.

The Elbow Room

Ever'man Natural Foods

McGuire's Irish Pub

Ozone Pizza Pub

2213 W. Cervantes St. 434-0300

315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 everman.org

600 E. Gregory St. 433-6789 mcguiresirishpub.com

1010 N. 12th Ave., Suite 111 433-7336 ozonepizzapub.com

The Leisure Club

Oh Snap! Cupcakes

126 S. Palafox 912-4229 tlcdowntown.com

707-A E. Cervantes St. 387-4777 ohsnapcupcakes.com

Sluggo's Vegetarian Restaurant

End of the Line Cafe 610 E. Wright St. 429-0336 eotlcafe.org

101 S. Jefferson St. 791-6501, sluggos.net

**Please visit the respective businesses’ Facebook pages for locations, menus, pricing, specials and more.

City Grocery

2050 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, 469-8100 Why We Love It: This beloved neighborhood grocery has daily lunch specials and wine tastings on Fridays. On the weekends, they grill chicken and ribs. We recommend the Muffalata, made with Gambino’s Olive Salad.

10 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011

Dharma Blue

300 S. Alcaniz St., 433-1275, dharmablue.com Why We Love It: We love the coastal atmosphere of this restaurant. The menu is an eclectic mix of fresh seafood entrees as

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well as steaks, pastas and game, along with salads and quiche. We love Monday nights for the $2 off their sushi rolls. Dharma Blue Staff Recommends: Adobo Shrimp and Chorizo ($11.99) With fresh tomato and cilantro served with French bread

22 N. Palafox, 332-7227, elisecoastaldining.com Why We Love It: Few restaurants have made such an immediate splash in Pensacola. It has earned a nomination as one of the best new restaurants in the country from the James Beard Foundation. IN favorites include the Simple Greens salad, Risotto, Lamb and Custard—and, of course, the bacon that melts in your mouth. Elise Staff Recommends: House Cured Bacon ($9) Served with parsnip puree, lightly pickled beets and caramelized apples

The Fish House

600 S. Barracks St., 470-0003, goodgrits.com Why We Love It: There is a reason why every important politico eats here, and it’s not just the good-looking staff. Its Grits à Ya Ya has become a signature dish for not only Chef Jim Shirley, but also the entire Pensacola area. Fish House Staff Recommends: Grits à Ya Ya ($14.50 Lunch,$19.95 Dinner) Spiced Gulf jumbo shrimp top a sauté of spinach, portobello mushrooms, applewood smoked bacon, garlic, shallots and cream over a heaping bed of smoked Gouda cheese grits.

Five Sisters Blues Cafe

421 W. Belmont St., 912-4856, fivesistersbluescafe.com Why We Love It: Soul food in a romantic setting in a restaurant in historic Belmont-DeVilliers district. This café is cool. We love the red beans and rice, but the Aunt Sara’s Southern Fried Chicken is our favorite. Five Sisters Blues Café Staff Recommends: Fried Chicken Plates (2-piece $8.25, 3-piece $9.25) Chicken fried to crisp perfection accompanied by your choice of two southern sides

Frank and Lola Love Pensacola Cafe

165 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, 916-9755, margaritavillehotel.com Why We Love It: Hotel restaurants aren’t normally high on our list, but Margaritaville has hit a homerun with this one, even though it actually has a Cheeseburger in Paradise on its menu. We agree with the staff—The Crab & Shrimp Mac and Cheese is a must. Frank and Lola's Staff Recommends: Crab and Shrimp Mac and Cheese ($16) Macaroni with a Boursin cheese sauce, jumbo lump crab and Gulf shrimp covered in melted cheese and finished with a golden panko crust

Geno's Italian Restaurant

9276 N. Davis Highway, 477-2365 Why We Love It: This North Davis Highway restaurant is unassuming from the outside, but its pizza, spaghetti and other Italian dishes wow us every time. This is where we get our lasagna fix. Geno's Staff Recommends: Lasagna ($13.50) Served with a salad and garlic bread

ECD eat april 2011 final:Layout 1 3/31/2011 5:02 PM Page 1

lobster tail and shrimp, wild mushrooms, baby bok choy and garlic herb potatoes

Happy Pig Café

200 S. Alcaniz St., 912-8480, thehappypig.com Why We Love It: Our publisher is a barbeque fanatic, and it’s too convenient to have “The Pig” so close to the office. We have to smell what he dripped on his shirt for the rest of the day. He recommends the Happy Pig Pork Sandwich and the ribs.

Signature Dishes. Exceptional Service.

Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom

Elise / photo by Samantha Crooke

Global Grill

27 S. Palafox, 469-9966, dineglobalgrill.com Why We Love It: Chef Frank Taylor continues to impress and surprise with his menu creations. This is where we want to take our friends when we celebrate. The service is top-notch, and every meal is a delight. Global Grill Staff Recommends: New York Strip, Blackened with Andouille and Crab Cream ($32) Served with Yukon Mash and Chef ’s Vegetables

The Grand Marlin Restaurant and North Drop Bar

400 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach, 677-9153, thegrandmarlin.com Why We Love It: The Grand Marlin put casual fine dining on Pensacola Beach back on the map. The view of Santa Rosa Sound is breathtaking. Everything on the menu is worth trying, but we're partial to the Maryland Style Lump Crab Cakes. The Grand Marlin Restaurant Staff Recommends: Parmesan Crusted Flounder ($15.95) Fresh flounder fillet pan seared with Parmesan panko crust, served over garlic sauteed spinach, house-whipped potatoes and topped with a lemon caper brown butter sauce

10 Palafox Place, 497-6073, hopjacks.com Why We Love It: Humongous beer selection, pizza and Belgian fries–the perfect food trinity for the IN staff. It’s hard to imagine downtown Pensacola without Hopjacks. Hopjacks Staff Recommends: Belgian Fries ($5.75) Fresh-cut potatoes fried in duck fat and served with ketchup and a roasted garlic herb dip

Horizon Sushi Restaurant

3103 E. Strong St., 432-7899, horizensushi.net Why We Love It: Nice atmosphere coupled with innovative Asian cuisine put this Japanese restaurant on the list. The sushi and Bento boxes keep us coming back.

Contemporary Dining at its Best. 22 North Palafox Street • Downtown Pensacola 850.332.7272 • www.elisecoastaldining.com

Hub Stacey's Downtown

312 E. Government St., 469-1001, hubstaceys.com Why We Love It: Hub's Hummus is the best in town. All of the sandwiches are great, but we have a particular affinity toward the Romano Sandwich, a classic ruben with a Hub's twist.

H20 Cajun Asian Grill

12 Via de Luna (Located at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Hotel), 343-6791, eatath20.com Why We Love It: The restaurant overlooks the Pensacola Beach Hilton’s pool and the Gulf of Mexico. We love Chef Dan Dunn’s signature Beach Style Shrimp, a baconwrapped shrimp stuffed with Gouda cheese over a bed of dirty rice. H20 Cajun/Asian Grill Staff Recommends: Steak Dano ($35) 8-ounce grilled prime filet mignon with General Tso's-style fried

Global Grill's New York Strip INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

Why We Love It: We can have a seat at the bar, order a PBR, and enjoy some of the best Tex-Mex cuisine and finest velvet portraits of Elvis in Pensacola.

Jackson's Steakhouse

400 S. Palafox, 469-9898, jacksonsrestaurant.com Why We Love It: This is Pensacola’s premiere fine dining experience. It’s where the power brokers take guests when they want to impress them. Service is world class and Chef Irv Miller always has a unique special that never fails to please. Jackson's Staff Recommends: Gnocchi ($31) (Available on Spring/Summer menu April 22) With Port St. Joe shrimp, Cedar Key clams and Blue Gold mussels served with tomato, garlic, lemon, olive oil, chardonnay, fresh herbs and sun-dried tomato bread

Jaco's Bayfront Bar and Grille

Jackson's Steakhouse

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

5555-I N. Davis Highway, 494-2227, ichibanpensacola.com Why We Love It: Ichiban's sushi is some of the best around. Our favorite rolls: Pensacola Paradise Roll and Titan Roll.

Jackalope's Saloon

2907 E. Cervantes St., 434-0050

997 S. Palafox, 432-5226, jacosbayfrontbarandgrille.com Why We Love It: We go to Jaco’s for the sunsets, f latbread pizzas and excellent service. There is no better place to end a rough work day. Jaco's Staff Recommends: 10" Tender Blue Flatbread ($13.95) Very thin f latbread with a blue cheese base and sirloin cooked to your temp sprinkled on top

Jerry's Cajun Café

6205 N. Ninth Ave., 484-6962, jerryscajun.com Why We Love It: Pensacola has lost many of its Cajun restaurants, but Jerry Mistretta has held on, offering some of the best juicy Roast Beef Po-boys, Red Beans and Rice, Boudin Balls, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo and Crawfish Etouffe.

Cheddar Cheese, caramelized onions, roasted peppers, hickory-smoked bacon and vine-ripened tomatoes on multi-grain bread, served with House Ginger Slaw

Jerry's Drive-In

2815 E. Cervantes St., 433-9910 Why We Love It: This is a place for locals. Corny signs and college pennants cover the wall. Order the cheeseburger, onion rings and a chocolate milk shake and all will be right with the world.

The Leisure Club

126 S. Palafox, 912-4229, tlcdowntown.com Why We Love It: It’s hip, it’s cool, and it’s much more than a coffee shop. The lunch and dinner menus change regularly with creative offerings, and they have some of the best soups and grilled cheese sandwiches in Pensacola. The Leisure Club Staff Recommends: The Ragin' Cajun Panini ($9) Features Boars Head CajunJaco's Bayfront Bar and Grille / photo by Samantha style turkey breast, Boars Head Crooke

The Boardwalk’s NEWEST Dining Experience Casual Dining Southern Tapas, Sandwiches & Entrees Comfort Food With A Flare Over 50 Specialty Tequilas Live Entertainment - Friday, Saturday & Sunday

850.934.5999 portofino boardwalk • 400 quietwater beach rd unit 5 • pensacola beach 12 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011

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lN Sunday Brunch Guide Area Brunch Menus Offer Something for Everyone By IN Staff

unday Funday just got a little better. Check out each of these Sunday Brunch hot spots for some after-church or pre-beach feasting. You'll be so food-drunk you won't even care that you have to go back to work in the morning.

▶600 South

600 S. Palafox, 434-6320, 600southpalafox.com Sunday Brunch Served: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 600 South has one of Pensacola's most extensive brunch menus that includes: an assortment of Mediterranean salads; a 12-ingredient omelet station for made-to-order omelets of whole egg or egg whites; fresh seafood selections; five featured chef selections; a carving station with roasted poultry, pork or beef; and dessert pastries from around the world. The all-inclusive brunch is $19.99—$9.99 for children 10 and under—with a free Bloody Mary, champagne, mimosa or screwdriver. Add $5 for bottomless champagne.

▶Atlas Oyster House

600 S. Barracks St., 470-0003, atlas.goodgrits.com Sunday Brunch Served: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Like its sister restaurant, The Fish House, Atlas offers brunch menu items such as sushi, pizza, soups, salads, sandwiches and seafood entrees. However, Atlas also offers a variety of grilled and baked oyster specialties like IN's favorite blackened grilled oysters. Enjoy $2 Bloody Marys and mimosas and $3.95 bottomless glasses of champagne.

▶Crab's We Got'Em

6 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach, 932-0700, crabswegotem.com Sunday Brunch Served: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For $9.99, choose from five brunch entrees—Crab Cake Benedict, Classic Eggs Benedict, Crab Omelet, The House Denver Omelet, and Rise and Shine— along with $5.99 bottomless champagne, mimosas and bellinis. All brunch entrees are served with home fries, honey buns and fresh fruit.

▶End of the Line Café

610 E. Wright St., 429-0336, eotlcafe.com Sunday Brunch Served: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. End of the Line mixes traditional brunch up a little, offering a different 100-percent vegan brunch menu each

Sunday for an all-inclusive price of only $12. Recent brunch samplings have included: acorn squash and sweet potato bisque; cinnamon spice crostini; braised kale and garbanzos; button mushrooms with kumquat marmalade spring salad with creamy sundried tomato vinaigrette; and blueberry cobbler with mango creme fraiche. Regular or herbal tea is included with your meal.

▶The Fish House

600 S. Barracks St., 470-0003, goodgrits.com Sunday Brunch Served: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Fish House brunch menu is one of the area's best, and includes everything from sushi to pizza. Whatever you're hungry for, there's a little something for everyone: sushi, pizza, soups, salads, sandwiches and seafood entrees, in addition to brunch favorites such as Bananas Foster French Toast, Classic Eggs Benedict, Blueberry Belgian Waffle, Eggs Sardou, and of course, the World-Famous Grits a Ya-Ya, to name a few. Enjoy $2 Bloody Marys and mimosas and $3.95 bottomless glasses of champagne.

▶Five Sisters Blues Café

421 W. Belmont St., 912-4856, fivesistersbluescafe.com Sunday Brunch Served: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Five Sisters switches over to a special Sunday-only spread featuring classic brunch selections along with menu favorites that are available during the week. Chicken and waffles and their unique Creole-seasoned shrimp served over cheese grits are two of several choices available only during Sunday Brunch hours. The restaurant also regularly hosts live jazz musicians during brunch; check out their events calendar online for more information. Reservations are recommended for parties of six or more.

▶Flounders Chowder House

800 Quietwater Beach Road, Pensacola Beach, 932-2003, flounderschowderhouse.com Sunday Brunch Served: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Flounders' Champagne Sunday Brunch includes fancy omelets made with six eggs each—Flounders Seafood Omelet and Classic Denver Omelet—and benedicts— Classic Eggs Benedict and Eggs Pensacola Beach. All brunch entrees are served with your choice of home fries or cheese grits, New Orleans beignets and fresh fruit. Enjoy a bottomless glass of champagne with your meal for $5.95.

▶The Grand Marlin

400 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach, 677-9153, thegrandmarlin.com Sunday Brunch Served: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dine inside The Grand Marlin, with views of Pensacola Bay, or on The North Drop deck, with its live music and vistas across Santa Rosa Sound. Start your meal off right with a Peach Bellini, a Grand Mimosa or the signature TGM House-Made Bloody Mary, and follow with Crab Cakes Benedict, Steak and Eggs, Shrimp Frittata or Green Eggs and Ham, to name a few options.

▶H20 Cajun Asian Grille

12 Via de Luna (Located at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Hotel), 343-6791, eatath20.com Sunday Brunch Served: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For $26.95, choose from over 40 food choices from Executive Chef Dan Dunn and 32 Bloody Mary options. Add $6.95 for bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas. Reservations are encouraged.

▶Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille 997 S. Palafox, 432-5226, jacosbayfrontbarandgrille.com Sunday Brunch Served: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jaco's started serving brunch on March 13, and now is the perfect time to sit out on the porch and enjoy brunch on the bay. Choose from eight entrees, including Flatbread Scramble, Stuffed French Toast, Seafood Frittata and Fried Egg and Green Tomato Stack, and accompanying sides that include Creole Grits, Breakfast Potatoes and Capicola Ham, among others. Wash it all down with $2 Bloody Marys, mimosas and champagne.

▶McGuire's Irish Pub

600 E. Gregory St., 433-6789, mcguiresirishpub.com Sunday Brunch Served: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. In addition to killer steaks and burgers, McGuire's also has a scrumptious Sunday brunch menu that will keep you full for a few days. All items on the brunch menu are served with your choice of Irish Coffee (frozen or hot) and their homemade French Quarter beignets. Entrees include massive omelettes—each made with six eggs and served with Potatoes O'Brien and beignets—and benedicts. You can also drink up without dropping a lot of cash—Enjoy Bloody Marys for $2 each and bottomless glasses of champagne for $2.99.

▶Unique Café

51 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 932-8638 Sunday Brunch Served: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Unique Café recently expanded into the former Jambalaya's Grill & Oyster Bar in Bay Beach Inn, and the waterfront restaurant offers fabulous view of the bay while you dine. Along with their brunch menu Unique Cafe offers $1.99 mimosas and $3.50 Bloody Marys. Dine on the water with live music every Sunday.

▶The Leisure Club

126 S. Palafox, 912-4229, tlcdowntown.com Sunday Brunch Served: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The Leisure Club presents "Bubbles & Brunch" every Sunday with Chef Josh House and stellar music by DJ Ram-Z. Enjoy bottomless champagne and mimosas for $7 and $12 Gourmet Brunch Trios where you select three menu items to build your perfect brunch combination—everything from Belgian Waffles to Garden Frittata to Rosemary Sausage Biscuits & Gravy and more. Vegan options are also available. It's leisurely and laid back...TLC at its best.

The Fish House's Eggs Benedict INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

Boardwalk Savior Laguna’s Resurrects Casual Fine Dining on the Boardwalk By Grant Hutchinson

Laguna's

aguna’s didn’t open in time to make our "Top 50" list, but they’re quickly becoming a top candidate for next year’s. With a clean, nautical-inspired décor and a roomy, free-flowing design that takes advantage of its beautiful surroundings, Laguna’s adds a much-needed dollop of class to Quietwater Boardwalk. That’s not to say that Laguna’s is stuffy, however. The business crowd comes in their golf shirts and khakis and power blouses, sure, but they’re flanked on every

14 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011

side by surfer dudes in board shorts and flip-flops and beach bunnies fresh off the sand. The menu offers clever twists on traditional Southern and seafood fare, creating a dining experience that feels simultaneously authentic and unique. The fried oyster tacos deliver a perfect blend of salty, spicy and tangy flavors. The fried chicken and waffles redefine breakfast, creating a meaty, sweet dish that’s gooey and delicious to the last bite. Other main dishes include burgers, chicken and fish sandwiches, crab cakes, chicken and shrimp pasta, roasted free-range chicken breast, the local catch served with grits and spinach, and ribeye steak. A selection of delectable tapas is sure to encourage sharing. From the Frenchbreaded, veggie-infused slider burgers to the New Orleans-inspired baked brie with praline topping, every tongue is sure to find something that pleases it. Rounding out the tapas menu are a “build your own”

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mac and cheese, a selection of salsa, BBQ shrimp, seared ahi tuna, lump crab fondue and fried pickles. If it’s spirits you’re after, Laguna’s full bar is highlighted by a wide range of highend tequila selections, from the standard Patron at $8.25 a shot to the $100 Herradura Select. Laguna’s also serves a number of mixed tequila drinks formulated in-house. The Iced Te-Quiller is just what it sounds like—tequila, sweet tea and lemon juice. It’s also surprisingly good—think a Long Island with a bit more kick. If you’re feeling particularly gothic, the Vampirerita margarita combines tequila, blood orange puree, lime juice and triple sec for a tasty blend that would make Dracula proud.

Lillo's Tuscan Grille

5 Via De Luna Drive, 934-5456, lillostuscangrille.com Why We Love It: Its intimate romantic dining area works so well on Pensacola Beach. The menu items are authentic Italian family recipes that have been passed down for generations. We love the Eggplant Parmesan.

Marina Oyster Bar

505 Bayou Blvd., 433-0511, marinaoysterbarn.com Why We Love It: You have to know where this place is to eat there. The gumbo and fried oysters are worth the hunt. This f loating restaurant on Bayou Texar should be on your regular dining itinerary.

McGuire's Irish Pub

600 E. Gregory St., 433-6789, mcguiresirishpub.com Why We Love It: Tourists make this Gregory Street restaurant a must-stop on their visits to the area, but the food, service and atmosphere keep us coming back, too. The proportions are gargantuan, and the steaks are mouth-watering.

Mellow Mushroom

Laguna's 400 Quietwater Beach Road #5-A 934-5999 Facebook: Laguna's

5175 Bayou Blvd., 475-7575, mellowmushroom.com Why We Love It: This chain restaurant delivers on its promise to escape from the mundane. The specialty pizzas are imaginative and delicious and the expansive beer selection—one of the IN's favorite restaurant attributes—is impressive.

The Native Cafe

45A Via DeLuna Drive, Pensacola Beach, 9344848, thenativecafe.com Why We Love It: This restaurant may do little advertising and be hidden in a strip center on Pensacola Beach, but its food, especially the fish tacos, is fantastic and locals rave about it. You have to try this one. The Native Cafe Staff Recommends: Fish Tacos ($8.99) Three tacos with mahi mahi (flamed sauteed) topped with shredded cabbage, tomatoes and bell peppers, in grilled flour tortillas and served with pico and chipotle mayo

New Yorker Deli and Pizzeria

3001 E. Cervantes St., 469-0029, newyorkerdeliandpizzeria.com Why We Love It: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small and usually crammed, but the food is worth the wait. The salads, hot and cold sandwiches and authentic New York pizzas, calzones and strombolis are excellent. The Italian Sausage and New York Pastrami sandwiches are two of our favorites. New Yorker Deli Staff Recommends: The Reuben ($6.49) Comes with your choice of pastrami, turkey or corned beef, and chips and a pickle

New York Nick's

The Native Cafe's Fish Tacos / photo by Samantha Crooke

9 S. Palafox, 469-1984, newyorknicks.net Why We Love It: Nick, the owner, is grouchy, but he can wave his magic channel changer to get any sports event in the world. We are addicted to the char-grilled wings, but all the sandwiches are great. What we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t figure out is who's in all the photos on the walls. New York Nick's Staff Recommends: Buffalo Style Char-Grilled Wings ($7.95 for 10, $13.95 for 20) Basket size jumbo

The Oar House on Bayou Chico / photo by Samantha Crooke wings tossed in their recipe buffalo wing sauce then chargrilled.

The Oar House on Bayou Chico

1000 S. Pace Blvd., 549-4444, oarhouserestaurant.com Why We Love It: The atmosphere is relaxed, especially after a long day at the paper. Sitting on the deck with an ice-cold beer in hand watching the boats come in is why we live on the coast, right? We love The Forklift fish sandwich. The Oar House Staff Recommends: Mahi Sandwich-Blackened (New Menu Item)

($11.99) Also prepared grilled, fried or jerked. Comes with your choice of side salad, coleslaw, black eyed peas, hushpuppies or french fries and a pickle spear

O'Brien's Bistro

4350 Bayou Blvd. # 8, 477-9120 Why We Love It: If you live or work in the Cordova Mall area, this restaurant may be a regular stop for you. The rest of Pensacola may not know of its existence, but its dishes rival the more familiar downtown restaurants. Try the Seafood Extravaganza or the Grilled Duck.

INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

The Oyster Bar on Perdido Key

13700 River Road, 492-5600, oysterbar31.com Why We Love It: This restaurant is an institution in the Perdido Key area. Located on the Intercoastal Canal, it is the perfect escape from Pensacola drama. The Oysters Rockefeller are worth the drive.

Ozone Pizza Pub

1010 N. 12th Ave., 433-7336, ozonepizzapub.com Why We Love It: The pizza is amazing, and the conversation is always interesting. Finding the bathroom is also an adventure. Ozone Pizza Pub Staff Recommends: Ponderosa Stomp with Cream Cheese Added (10” $13.95, 14” $17.95, 16” $19.95) A unique blend of barbecue sauce, diced green onions, green peppers, bacon, cheddar cheese blend and spicy chicken; drizzled with honey

Scenic 90 Cafe

701 Scenic Highway, 433-8844, scenic90cafe.com Why We Love It: We love diners. There is something comforting about the atmosphere, whether you're there for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Scenic 90 is a Saturday morning stop for our crew.

Shan Kishi Sushi and Hibachi

804 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 932-8188 Why we love it: One of Gulf Breeze’s newest restaurants, Shan Kishi has attracted our attention with its 10 hibachi tables and over 100 sushi rolls on the menu. Shan Kishi Staff Recommends: Hibachi Steak & Shrimp Combo ($21.95) Served with fried or white rice, shrimp appetizer (two pieces), hibachi vegetables and clear broth onion soup

400 S. Jefferson St., 439-6545, portabellomarket.com Why We Love It: We've fallen in love with this lunch spot's wraps, but the new menu has got us trying new dishes like the Grilled Skirt Steak. The Portabello Market Staff Recommends: The Black and Blue Dry Rubbed Skirt Steak Sandwich ($8.95) Comes with chips, pickle and one of their daily side salads

Ragtyme Grille

201 S. Jefferson St., 429-9655, ragtyme.net Why We Love It: If you want to get a peak of the stars playing at the Saenger, you might want to eat at this downtown spot. You never know who might be eating the Jefferson Street Turkey Sandwich or Bud’s Spring Fling Salad next to you. Ragtyme Grille Staff Recommends: Sauteed Crab Claws (Market Price) Sauteed in a white wine sauce and served with French bread

16 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

Tuscan Oven

4801 N. Ninth Ave., 484-6836, thetuscanoven.com Why We Love It: The pizzas are made in the southern Italian style—thin throughout with a nice chewy crust around the edge. The restaurant has a more casual fine dining setting than Ozone, Hopjacks or Mellow Mushroom. The best seats in the

Wine World Wine Bar

16 S. Palafox, Suite 100, 607-2089, chanswineworld.com Why We Love It: This cool spot is located on Palafox in the little alleyway leading from the Jefferson parking garage. It’s a great spot for lunch, dinner or happy hour and offers soups, salads, sandwiches and tapas. We love the Gourmet Cheese Plate with a glass of wine. Wine Bar Staff Recommends: Feta-Cream Cheese BLT ($8) Applewood-smoked bacon, tomatoes and baby arugula with warm feta-cream cheese spread on white panini bread. Served with a small Wine Bar Salad or sea salt and cracked pepper kettle chips info@inweekly.net

By Kate Peterson

Pegleg Pete's

The Portabello Market

#2 Via de Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach, 934-3660, sidelinessportsbarandrestaurant.com Why We Love It: It’s a sports bar on the beach–sports on the big screens, bathing suits, cold beer and hot wings. Simple pleasures are the best. Sidelines Staff Recommends: Sideline’s Supreme ($8.95) Fresh catch sandwich topped with grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms and Swiss cheese, served with tartar sauce

house are right next to the oven, where you can watch the pizzas being made.

Whole Lot of Pub Grub IN Searches For Some Grub in a Pub

Panera Bread

5100 N. Ninth Ave. #E541, 494-1774, panerabread.com Why We Love It: Ok, ok, it’s a mall restaurant, but we can't even try to hate it. The food is priced right for our tight budgets, and the delicious sandwich, soup and salad combinations are infinite. Not to mention we could eat about eight of the bread soup bowls. 1010 Ft. Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, 932-4139, peglegpetes.com Why We Love It: The Steamed Shrimp and Crab Combo is our favorite. Away from the commercial core of Pensacola Beach, this restaurant is what we picture when we think of a beach seafood house. The whole family is welcome. Pegleg Pete's Staff Recommends: Oyster Sampler ($12.99) A sampling of baked specialties—Cajun, Parmesan, Rockefeller, Casino, Spicy Lafitte and Imperial.

Sidelines Sports Bar & Restaurant

artaking in libations often makes you yearn for a little something to munch on. We searched the corners of our area and found some great places to have a bite to eat while you're having fun with friends and family.

▶Bamboo Willie’s

400 Quietwater Beach Road, 916-9888, bamboowillies.com Bamboo Willie’s Beachside Bar is located on Quietwater Beach Boardwalk and is accessible by car or boat. They feature famous Fat Tuesday frozen drinks, a full bar and a wide variety of domestic and imported beer. On April 14-16 Bamboo Willie’s will have its 10th annual Crawfish Festival, which is scheduled to serve up 10,000 pounds of crawfish. Live bands will include The Revivalists and Zydeco band Tout Les Soir from New Orleans.

▶The Break

65 Via De Luna Drive, 932-0864, facebook.com/group.php?gid=76629763825 What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than to head to Pensacola Beach

and eat some crawfish? Starting at 2 p.m. each Sunday, The Break serves flats of crawfish for $10 until they sell out. Also, every night they serve pizza by the slice and popcorn until the bar closes. The Break is a surfer hangout, with a spot in their hearts for everyone. You often can find a sporting event on the TV's throughout the place, be it skateboarding, surfing, football or Nascar.

▶Elbow Room

2213 W. Cervantes St., 434-0300, facebook.com/pages/the-elbow-room Music playing on the jukebox, locals, tourists, red lights, real cloth napkins and some Star Trek décor is what you encounter when walking into Elbow Room. Open since 1984, so much of the original flair still remains. They have wine, champagne and beer, and they serve food until they close at 2 a.m. such as the Captain Turk—thick oven-roasted turkey breast, topped with sliced Granny Smith apples, melted Swiss cheese and honey mustard, served on a toasted hoagie. Other menu items include hummus, chips and salsa, burgers, dogs, salads and pizza.

▶Jackalope’s Saloon

2907 E. Cervantes St., 434-0500, facebook.com/jackalopesaloon Located on the East end of Cervantes in an old row house, painted pink, is Jackalope’s Saloon. They feature an eclectic décor, which reminds you

of a bar straight out of Austin, Texas. They serve wine and beer along with a Tex-Mex menu. The raves are for their chicken tacos, cheese dip, pulled pork tacos and a variety of vegetarian selections. Remember to bring cash; they are a cash-only establishment.

▶Paddy O’Leary’s Irish Pub

49 Via De Luna Drive, 916-9808, paddyolearysirishpub.com A real Irish pub on Pensacola Beach, Paddy's features great beer, a full bar and many a singalong. Paddy’s features local musicians—very popular with the patrons. The selection of grub is limited to snack type items such as pizza by the slice and boiled peanuts. However, they do encourage you to order from a local restaurant that delivers. Paddy’s will provide the plates, napkins and service, with a smile.

▶Palace Café at Seville Quarter

130 E. Government St., 434-6211, sevillequarter.com/bar-restaurant The historic quality of Seville Quarter cannot be beat. In addition, the fact that you can grab a cocktail or a beer and have something to eat before you dance the night away makes it even more appealing. Palace Café was formerly known as Palace Oyster Bar. Included in the café is a coffee shop called Stand Your Grounds! Express Yourself!, which opens at 7 a.m. and offers a wide variety of coffee, tea and beignets. The Palace Café serves a full menu from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

What A Laugh

Comedian Doug Benson Performs at Seville Quarter by Kate Peterson

oug Benson has appeared in a variety of comedic outlets. His earliest appearances include Comedy Central’s “The A-List” and “Two Drink Minimum,” as well as a comedy stage show that he co-created called “The Marijuana-Logues.” In 2008, Benson recorded a comedy album, “Professional Humoredian.” His second album, “Unbalanced Load,” recorded in 2009 and was rated by Punch-

line Magazine as one of “The 10 Best Comedy Albums of 2009” at number five. His most recent album is titled, “Hypocritical Oaf,” recorded in 2010. Critics and fans alike have positively reviewed all of his albums. It is noted that a couple of the tracks on his albums are four minutes and 20 seconds long. The number 420 refers to a socially acceptable time to consume cannabis. The phrase was coined by some California kids in 1971, who used the time 4:20 p.m. as a meeting time to search for a cannabis crop they had heard about. From then on, the stoner crowd used it as code for smoking. Benson will be recording a new CD every year on April 20. In 2008, Benson starred in the film “Super High Me,” a marijuana-smoking version of “Super Size Me,” a movie about only eating fast food for a month. In Benson’s film, he went 30 days without smoking, then spent the next 30 days smoking as much as possible and studying the effects. For some time, Benson has been hosting a weekly podcast titled “Doug Loves Movies” that is filmed before a live studio

And, like my other podcast, “The Benson Interruption,” they are taped in front of a live audience.

audience. It is then available on iTunes for free. The podcasts have featured notable figures such as Zach Galifianakis, Ellen Page, Sarah Silverman, Adam Carolla, Michael Cera, Leonard Maltin and John Lithgow, to name a few. Recently, we talked to the comic about his beginnings, albums, movies, podcasts and his subject matter. IN: What spurred your interest in becoming a comedian? BENSON: I loved comedy as a kid, but I never really thought I could do it. Then, when I was 22, a couple of buddies goaded me into giving it a try. I went up on “pot luck” night at a club in Los Angeles, did three minutes, got a couple laughs, and I was hooked. IN: Who influenced you, comedian-wise? BENSON: The albums I listened to as a kid were Bill Cosby, George Carlin and Steve Martin. Very different styles. I like to think they influenced me to do my own thing. IN: To date, what is your favorite project or event, and why? BENSON: I have to say my podcasts “Doug Loves Movies” and “The Benson Interruption,” because they are 100 percent me and my guests. We can say anything we want, and it doesn’t get edited. It just goes right out into the Internet for the world to hear. For better or worse. And people seem to enjoy it, so I’ll keep doing it. IN: In the movie “Super High Me,” the subject matter is the source of many jokes. How do you think weed feels about being ingested and then investigated? BENSON: I think weed tries not to stress out about it. Hee hee. IN: What is the “Doug Loves Movies” podcast about? BENSON: It’s me and my friends, and sometimes actual filmmakers, sitting around making jokes and playing games about movies. We digress into other subjects, of course, because one or all of us might be high while we are taping it.

IN: What went into the making of your three comedy albums? BENSON: I decided to record a new album every year on 4/20, because I can always get a good turnout on that date. This will be the fourth year in a row I tape a CD on that day. So I tour for a year, generating new material, knowing I have to have a new album’s worth of stuff on April 20. And then, on 4/21, the process starts all over again. IN: Having over 200,000 followers on Twitter, what does that mean to you? BENSON: It means I can annoy a lot of people. I try to keep the self-promotion to a minimum, but it’s hard because I have so many shows and gigs that I want people to know about. I tweet jokes as well, which is fun to do because of the instant feedback I get. But some of the feedback is mean, so I have a love/hate relationship with the Twitterverse. IN: What’s next for you? BENSON: Lots of travel. I’m going to try to make another tour concert movie thingy. Like “Super High Me,” but without the part where I quit smoking for a month. I don’t need to go through that again. IN: What do you want to be when you grow up? BENSON: Not grown up. (Smiles) info@inweekly.net

DOUG BENSON COMEDY SHOW

WHEN: 8:45 p.m. Friday, April 15 WHERE: Phineas Phogg’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. COST: $15 adults, $2 additional under 21 DETAILS: sevillequarter.com INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

a&e Chicken Fingerz, Wings, Zalads® and more.

Fine Wine, Fine Art

Fifth Annual Pensacola Wine Festival Adds New Taste

by Dylan O’Leary

Kids Night Tuesdays and Thursdays

1451 Tiger Park Lane • Gulf Breeze 850.932.7289 2640 Creighton Rd. • Pensacola 850.477.0025 © 2008 Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. “Zaxby’s” and “Zalads” are registered trademarks of Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc.

Don’t Miss!

O p e n i n g A pr il 1 F rom P ri v a t e Wa l l s: Pe ns a co l a C o l l e c t s II

On Exhibit through May 15th Rob Vander Zee: Visions of Paradise

p en s ac ol a m us e um o f a r t 407 s. jefferson street • 850.432.6247

www.pensacolamuseumofart.org

Now Open | Gulf Breeze Publix Shopping Center

hat goes with fine wine? Fine art. In it’s fifth year, the Pensacola Wine Festival will add fine art (and the artists who make it) to its roster of attractions. “We think it’ll add a little more f lavor to the event,” said Jim Sweida, board president of Blue Morning Gallery and an organizer of the artistic addition to the wine festival. “We’re expecting about eight to 10 artists to participate.” Add a little music from live bands on two balconies serenading the visitors, and that’s a good afternoon of ambiance. At its heart, the Pensacola Wine Festival provides a place for distributors to let their wines flow to all who will try them. About 80-100 different wines will be presented by a variety of distributors, all for just $30. And since that’s the cost of one or two good bottles of wine, that’s a good deal—about one sip of wine every two minutes. Plus, you get to keep the complimentary wine glass. The festival, which is organized by the Downtown Improvement Board, will close off Palafox Street south of Garden Street. Several business in the area are looking forward to the milling, mulling crowds. Nick Fawal, owner and executive chef at Vic & Ike’s Restaurant on Palafox Street, welcomes the event. “We’ll host two wine tastings at 6 p.m.

18 | INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

and 8 p.m. to kick things off with some select wines,” Fawal said. “And we’ll be pairing wines with appetizers made especially for the evening. Wine goers are very particular people who want quality food and wine, and this is a great opportunity to offer that and show our stuff. “And anything that happens downtown in Pensacola is great for this economy. I’m new to the area but in so many other places I’ve worked, especially places like D.C. and Birmingham, Ala., local events are heavily promoted for that very reason. I get the impression—again, I’m an outsider—that the downtown is held up like a fragile vase. It isn’t. It’s a container that should be used for the wealth of the community.” The Wine Bar, also on Palafox Street, is also gearing up for the big event. “We are excited that the Pensacola Wine Festival will take place right on Palafox so close to us,” said Mari Josephs, general manager at The Wine Bar. “The festival will certainly bring additional business to all of us downtown.” The festival has been quite successful in the past but is hampered by a lack of sponsors who have financed festival events up front, said Executive Director of the Downtown Improvement Board Franklin Kimbrough. Despite the addition of fine art for sale, some of the events from recent years aren’t to be found this year, like the reserve tasting, a

wine dinner, and another tasting on Pensacola Beach. “And we won’t be able to get statistics on the event, which is unfortunate,” Kimbrough said. “We found out that during the 2009 festival, 26 percent of the attendees, about 250 people, came from outside the Baldwin, Escambia and Santa Rosa area. Regardless, this is a great time for people who like wine to branch out and try wine they’d normally never try.” Kimbrough added that despite the recent economic woes, the festival sold out last year—all 750 tickets. So make sure you get your ticket soon. At the gate, festival goers will receive a brochure with a check-off list of all the wines available at the festival. When you find a bottle you want, step into Distinctive Kitchens and buy a bottle. Or a case. Curtis Flower, manager at Distinctive Kitchens, and his staff are ready to receive those who want to take home great wine values. “Every wine poured that day will be available for purchase by the bottle and case in Distinctive Kitchens, while supplies last, until 8 p.m.” Flower said. Flower was a strong advocate of the wine festival’s creation, having organized a few before in other communities as a wine distributor. “These are great events,” Flower added. “It hugely promotes Pensacola as a place to visit and gives visitors an opportunity to explore and expand their horizons on different varietals—and find a great bottle of wine.” info@inweekly.net

PENSACOLA WINE FESTIVAL

WHEN: 3-6 p.m. Saturday, April 16 WHERE: South Palafox, Downtown Pensacola COST: $30, 21 or older to enter DETAILS: pensacolawinefestival.com

TICKET SALE LOCATIONS:

600 South, 600 S. Palafox Distinctive Kitchens Culinary Arts Center, 29 S. Palafox Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox Vic & Ike’s, 104 S. Palafox Wine World Wine Bar, 16 S. Palafox

hot times ▼OTHER

▶staff pick

Get Creative & Hangout The Black Keys Hangout Fest Poster Contest creativeallies.com. Please make sure your read up before you let your creative juices start flowing, we’d hate for you to get disqualified for using “literal or cliche interpretations” like “keys, black or otherwise.” Pretty Lights is also sponsoring a similar contest.

General Hangout Fest Information Tickets are $25 for Hangout Festival ticket buyers, $30 regular price, and $35 day of show. Passes to the Hangout Music Festival are on sale now for $174, with a few $525 VIP passes remaining. “Big Kahuna” VIP tickets have already sold-out. Passes can be purchased on the Hangout website, through Front Gate Ticketing and at the Hangout Restaurant in Gulf Shores, AL.

ust in case you needed one more reason to get excited for next months’ Hangout Fest, here it is: The Black Keys are looking for an original poster design to commemorate their upcoming performance at the Hangout. The winning designer will receive $500, two tickets to the Fest, five screen prints of the winning design and a Case-Mate iPhone 4 case with the winning design. For design guidelines, deadlines & a pretty helpful and hilarious list of design “don’ts”, please visit

HANGOUT MUSIC FESTIVAL

WHEN: Friday-Sunday, May 20-22 WHERE: The Hangout, Gulf Shores, Ala. COST: Three-day pass $174, VIP three-day pass $525 DETAILS: hangoutmusicfest.com

Byrom Campbell Road. 994-6000 or farmersopry.com.

GULF COAST KID’S HOUSE HOSTS BREAKING THE SILENCE TOUR 8:30 a.m. This introduction to Gulf Coast Kid’s House (GCKH) provides an informative overview of the concepts and processes of the GCKH mission, including a tour of the cheerful, child-friendly facility. Gulf Coast Kid’s House, 3401 N. 12th Ave. 595-5800 or gulfcoastkidshouse.org. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS SOCIETY LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m. The Pensacola Chapter of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society is scheduled to meet for a luncheon at Franco’s Italian Restaurant. Bring a story to share. Franco’s Italian Restaurant, 523 E. Gregory St. 453-9291. SUNSETS AT PLAZA DE LUNA 5:30 p.m.-sunset. Mr. Fahrenheit will perform and Dora will entertain the kids. De Luna’s full service concession will serve up great snacks and full meals, and the interactive fountain will be a refreshing splash for the kids. Plaza de Luna, at the end of Palafox. 435-1695 or cityofpensacola.com/cra.

ART ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6-8 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: Courtney’s Poppies-National Arthritis Foundation. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $35. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

▼FESTIVALS

WHITE SANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL 7 p.m. Farmer’s Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Road. 994-6000 or farmersopry.com.

▼FOOD & DRINK

LUNCH & LEARN AT DK 12 p.m. Join DK and a guest chef to be entertained with their stove-top magic. $15. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox. 438-4688 or dk4u.com. MARTINIS, MUSIC AND A GREAT MEAL AT JACKSON’S 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Taking a cue from the award-winning television show “Mad Men,” Jackson’s will take you back to an era when martinis were dirty, the Rat Pack was swingin’ and a great steak was all the rage. Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. 469-9898 or jacksons.goodgrits.com.

▼LECTURES & CLASSES

HERB CLASS AT EVER’MAN 5:30 p.m. Study different herbs sold at Ever’man. This group will study a video series compiled by Dr. John R. Christopher and Richard Schulze. Free for members, $2 for non-members. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org. ART HISTORY LECTURE SERIES AT PMA 6 p.m. Free but reservations appreciated. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org.

▼LIVE MUSIC

JEFF IVANOFF 4-7 p.m. Tiki Stage at the Pool, Margaritaville Beach Hotel, 165 Fort Pickens Road. 916-9755 or margaritavillehotel.com. JAM SANDWICH 6-10 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com. SCOTT BRYANT 7 p.m. Paddy O’ Leary’s Irish Pub, 49 Via de Luna Drive. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com.

RONNIE LEVINE 7 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com. BLENDERS 7 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Cafe, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com. GUITAR SHORTY 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com. WHO’S BAD-THE ULTIMATE MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE BAND 7:30 p.m. $15-$20. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com. THE REVIVALISTS 8 p.m. $5. Live Niteclub, 9121 Pensacola Blvd. 607-2950.

FRIDAY 4.15 ▼ART

ART CLASS AT PAINTING WITH A TWIST 6-9 p.m. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage, and paint a picture step by step that you will take home. 16 years and older. Theme: The Red Door. Painting with a Twist, 4771 Bayou Blvd., Suite C-11. $45. 471-1450 or paintingwithatwist.com/pensacola.

ACOUSTIFUNK 7 p.m. Hub Stacey’s at the Point, 5851 Galvez Road. 497-0071 or hubstaceys.com. ONE JAMAICAN 7 p.m. Paddy O’ Leary’s Irish Pub, 49 Via de Luna Drive. 916-9808 or paddyolearysirishpub.com. 3 AMIGOS DUO 7 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Road. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com.

THE ROWDIES 8 p.m.-12 a.m. LandShark Landing, Margaritaville Beach Hotel, 165 Fort Pickens Road. 916-9755 or margaritavillehotel.com. HERITAGE 8-11 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com. SCHOFIELD 9 p.m. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 4700003 or goodgrits.com. MAYHEM 9 p.m. $10-$12. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com. THE REZ 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. THE MODERN ELDORADOS 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. SWEET PEA’S REVENGE 9 p.m. End ‘O the Alley in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

CRAWFISH FESTIVAL 4 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Road. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com.

PANHANDLE ALL STARS 9:30 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Cafe, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com.

WHITE SANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL 7 p.m. Farmer’s Opry, 8897

▶staff pick

Music Relief

National, Regional And Local Musicians Play at Pirates Cove

By Kate Peterson

The festivities take place at Pirates Cove Yacht Club in Elberta, Ala., located on the north shore of Arnica Bay. Known for hosting a variety of charity events and wellknown musical acts, this venue is a perfect location for music and fun in the sun. The impressive line-up includes: Grayson Capps & The Lost Cause Minstrels with special guests John Mooney & Guthrie Trapp, Sassafrass, Randall Bramblett, Sugarcane Jane, John Joiner, Honey Island Swamp Band with John Mooney, Walter Wolfman Washington & the Roadmasters, Johnny Barbato, Luther Wamble, Jon Cleary Trio and many more. This show goes on the road to New Orleans the following weekend, so catch it here first.

SWEET PEA’S REVENGE 9 p.m. End ‘O the Alley in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. ONLY THIEVES 9:30 p.m. $5. Sluggo’s, 101 S. Jefferson St. 791-6501 or sluggos.net.

▼THEATRE & PERFORMANCE

‘A COUPLA WHITE CHICKS SITTING AROUND TALKING’ AT THEATRE WEST 7:30 p.m. This two-character comedy takes place in the suburban kitchen of Maude Mix, who is having a tough day. Her husband is off on a weekend spree with his secretary and she can’t get rid of the pesky neighbor who has just moved up from Texas. $15. Reservations recommended. Sanctuary in the Grove Theatre West, 9732 Sidney Road. 912-4087 or sanctuarythreatrewest.com.

‘BRIGADOON’ AT UWF 8 p.m. This classic musical tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, though to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. $5-$16. University of West Florida, Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway, Building 82. 857-6285 or uwf.edu.

BELLA ORANGE 7 p.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com.

SAUCE BOSS 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna. 9165087 or paradisebar-grill.com.

PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE 7:30 p.m. Under the direction of Roger Villines, the 17-member ensemble will perform works by Count Basie, Sammy Nestico and Gordon Goodwin–plus perform Stan Kenton’s version of “Malaguena” that features French horns. Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, 1000 College Blvd, Building 8. 484-1847 or pensacolastate.edu.

VIBE IREE 9 p.m.-1 a.m. LandShark Landing, Margaritaville Beach Hotel, 165 Fort Pickens Road. 916-9755 or margaritavillehotel.com.

SUGARLAND IN CONCERT AT THE CIVIC CENTER 7:30 p.m. The Incredible Machine Tour returns to the road this spring with guests Sara Bareilles, Little Big Town and Matt Nathanson. Pensacola Civic Center, 201 E. Gregory St. 432-0800 or pensacolaciviccenter.com.

▼LIVE MUSIC

FAT MAN SQUEEZE 3 7 p.m. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com.

▼FESTIVALS

THURSDAY 4.14

BON JOVI TRIBUTE ‘SLIPPERY WHEN WET’ 8 p.m. $5. Live Niteclub, 9121 Pensacola Blvd. 607-2950.

HARMONY FOR HEALTH BENEFIT CONCERT

Grayson Capps & The Lost Cause Minstrels

pril 20 marks the one-year anniversary of the BP oil disaster. Flying under the radar is an incredible music festival to benefit victims of the oil spill along the Gulf Coast. The event is sponsored by Harmony For Health & Guardians of the Gulf, as well as the Sea Shephard Conservation Society, The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, April 15-Sunday, April 17 WHERE: Pirates Cove, 6664 County Road 95, Elberta, Ala. COST: $30 Friday only, $45 Saturday only, $45 Sunday only, $100 3-day pass DETAILS: harmony-for-health.org or mycommunitytickets.net

INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

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| INDEPENDENT NEWS | april 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

culture

Blue Morning Gallery Steps Up

Despite Recession and Oil Spill, Art Blooms Downtown

BY Dylan O’Leary

“Downtown Pensacola is an eventdriven market,” Sweida added. “Hosting an event like a grand opening pays off so well when you coordinate it with a downtown event, like a festival or Gallery Night. For example, the past three Gallery Nights have had record-breaking business for downtown. We wanted that kind of crowd when we opened, and the wine festival was it.” Blue Morning Gallery will provide a little entertainment and cookies and punch for thirsty wine folk that afternoon. Also, to heighten awareness of the new location, Blue Morning will raff le off a $300 in-store shopping spree, drawn at 6:30 p.m. (no purchase required). Read more about the Pensacola Wine Festival in the article “Fine Wine, Fine Art” in this issue.

Art is Good Business

hy did 47 artists cross the road? 2,000 more square feet. Blue Morning Gallery just moved from its old location at 112 S. Palafox into their new address, 21 S. Palafox, having grown out of its shell. “It was a lot more than that,” said Jim Sweida, president of its board and one of the 47 artists that govern the co-operative. Sweida explained, “We knew our lease was running out at our old location. But in addition to knowing we needed a bigger place, we knew we needed more artists in the gallery. We had about 30-35 artists then and had to expand our variety.”

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The new gallery is 3,500 square feet (up from 1,500) and has a classroom where artists can attend seminars and learn new techniques. The Blue Morning Gallery was founded 12 years ago as the Adams Street Artists. As a co-op, it has no employees and therefore no salaries, a business structure not common for fine art galleries, but at Blue Morning, it paints a good picture. “We’re a good group, and our collective decision making has made good business over the years,” Sweida said. And one of those decisions is to have the opening on the same day as the Pensacola Wine Festival, which will f lood the street with festive crowds.

The decision to move and improve was a risk, but Blue Morning was given a couple of signs that it could be done. “Our restructuring and reorganization developed during the 2008-09 recession,” Sweida said. “Yet the board approved it and then so did the full membership, and we went for it. All was going well. Then the BP oil spill hit. Business was affected and there was a low point, but we managed to weather it through the summer. “Just about the same time as the oil spill, our vice president, Mark Schmitt, happened to be walking past this new location right as the leaseholder went out of business. It was pure karma. We knew it was a great fit, but we didn’t think we could do it. “By September, our sales increased and no one had rented the new space. So

H C A E B Y READ

GET

Blue Morning Gallery recently moved to 21 South Palafox and offers 1,500 more square feet of art. / photo by Dylan O’Leary

PS TCAM O O B th NEW ng April 4 Starti rd 23 & May

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we signed and we all packed up our things in March. “We felt the move was a very positive statement for not only the Blue Morning Gallery’s success, but it was also a positive statement for the status of downtown Pensacola and the greater community. Art, despite the recession and the oil spill, plays an important part in people’s lives.” Schmitt, a tile artist, likes the new space. “It was a perfect opportunity, and it all came together,” Schmitt said. “And it shows that things are picking up downtown. We also feel safer since there will be two extra Gallery Nights this year. Those really help— great for the new art we’ve displayed.” “I love the camaraderie at Blue Morning,” said mixed-media artist Laura Wolfersperger, the gallery’s secretary. “There’s a lot of real positive feedback among us and it’s so good for our art and for our customers. I felt a warm welcome when I first came there and still do.” Schmitt agreed, adding that he came to the gallery because his wife told him to. “She’s my inspiration.” info@inweekly.net

BLUE MORNING GALLERY GRAND OPENING

WHEN: 3-6 p.m. Saturday, April 16 WHERE: 21 S. Palafox COST: Free DETAILS: 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com

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music

Ska Lives

Less Than Jake brings hardcore brand of ska/punk rock to Seville

BY Grant Hutchinson

ka, the punk-rock hybrid that combines speedy guitar riffs with trumpet and trombone blasts, is alive and well. And if you don’t believe that, then you haven’t been listening to Less Than Jake. The ska/punk quintet will perform at Seville Quarter on April 16. Over the last 20 years, Less Than Jake’s sound has evolved from raw, scratchy punk to a more refined and melodic sound. But that’s not to say they’ve lost their edge. The eternally youthful Less Than Jake fanbase continues to do plenty of

jumping, moshing, shoving and headbanging at their shows. “Bands that have been along as we have…you have to continually move forward and push yourself to write interesting songs,” says drummer, lyricist and founding member Vinnie Fiorello. “Not only for you, but for the fans.” The band is currently touring to promote their latest album, “TV/EP,” released last October. “TV/EP” consists of 16 sped-up, skaflavored covers of a variety of TV theme songs and old school commercial jingles,

everything from “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?” to the “Hungry Hungry Hippos” song. The result is a nostalgic sing-a-long that for the 20s and 30s crowd will recall the lazy channel flipping of childhood Saturday mornings. “We had a year off and wanted to do something fun,” says Fiorello. “We’ve done TV covers in the past and just sort of resurrected that idea.” “Fun” is a common thread strung through the entirety of the Less Than Jake catalog, dating all the way back to 1995’s “Pezcore,” their first studio release. For the better part of two decades, Less Than Jake has helped keep ska relevant with its bouncy, party theme tracks and casually self-deprecating lyrics. Encouraged by the success of “Pezcore,” Capitol Records signed Less Than Jake in 1996. Together with Capitol, the band released its two most commercially successful albums, “Losing Streak” and “Hello Rockview.” The latter produced Less Than Jake’s first Billboard-charting single, “History of a Boring Town.” Tensions between the band and Capitol caused the partnership to dissolve, and Less Than Jake found themselves shopping independent labels. They returned to the major label scene in 2003, releasing the “Anthem” LP on Warner Bros. Records. “Labels, be they indie or major, don’t really affect how we are making our music,” says Fiorello. Fiorello admits, however, that pressure from a label did impact the band’s sound, if only once. “With our last record on Warner, ‘In With the Out Crowd,’ there was this tedious push and pull with the label,” says Fiorello.

In 2008, the band chose to circumvent the label scene altogether, forming their own imprint called Sleep It Off Records. “I think that after being on two major labels and countless indies, we have the education on how to put out records ourselves,” says Fiorello. To Fiorello, Sleep It Off represents more than just a business venture. It’s a new model for the industry that he expects to catch on with other bands. “I think it’s maybe a glimpse of the future,” Fiorello says. “(Bands) being their own industry, selling their own merchandise.” As for the future of ska, a genre that many declared dead in the early 2000s, Fiorello isn’t so sure. “I don’t necessarily know where it’s going in the future,” he says. “But we’re happy with the label of ‘ska punk band.’ It’s where we started, and it’s what we continue to do.” info@inweekly.net

LESS THAN JAKE

WHAT: Less Than Jake with Chilled Monkey Brains, Stick City Mafia and Operation Hennesey WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday, April 16 WHERE: Phineas Phogg’s, Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. COST: $15, $17 (under 21) DETAILS: lessthanjake.com

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the public record

Dear Maxwell, I love that the Pensacola Museum of Art is in an old jailhouse. How did that come to be? -Dianne H. Not many art museums have bars on the windows, at least not like the Pensacola Museum of Art. The museum occupies a building that was originally built to house the Pensacola City Jail. In the early 1900s, Pensacola’s booming local commerce called for an increase in public services. The city allocated funds for a new police headquarters/jail, and in 1906 construction began on the corner of Jefferson and Main Streets. The two-story structure was designed in the Spanish Revival style by the firm of Ausfield and Blount of Montgomery, and it was built by S.F. Fulghum Construction Company of Pensacola. In February of 1908, the new facility was near completion. The only thing missing were the jail cells. The city spent $12,000 on four special-order jail cells, but the cells did not arrive by the contracted delivery date. Despite the setback, the city council voted to accept the new jail, and the police moved in that same day. The prisoners were kept in holding rooms separated by steel doors until the cells eventually arrived. The jail held male and female prisoners, and each were segregated by race. The first floor of the building contained administrative offices, kitchen and dining rooms, a sick ward and the women’s incarceration area. The sec-

24 | INDEPENDENT NEWS |

APRIL 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

by MAXWELL CHASE

ond floor housed the male prisoners adjacent to a large courtroom. For decades the police operated in the building with a force of about 50 men, while the jail regularly held 15 to 25 prisoners. Although the facility was new, the amenities were few. The police did not hire a full-time cook for the jail until after 1930. In the early days, prisoners cooked for themselves. Then later, the city dogcatcher served as a part-time cook. The meals consisted of staples like grits, beans, bread and coffee. The average cost of feeding a prisoner was seven cents per day. Life wasn’t exactly easy for the police either. The city did not provide policemen with full uniforms until 1946. Once a year the department ordered jackets, pants and hats, but officers were responsible for providing their own shirt, shoes, socks, belt, gun and holster. The policemen who opened the jail in 1908 paid about $35 for their uniforms. By the early 1950s, Pensacola had outgrown its police headquarters and jail again. The city council authorized construction of a new building on S. Alcaniz St. After police and prisoners vacated the building on Jefferson St., local cultural advocates acquired it in 1956 for use by the Pensacola Art Association, now the Pensacola Museum of Art. The building suited the needs of the museum because it was fireproof, secure and centrally located in the historic downtown district. The city agreed to lease the jail to the art association for one dollar per year. The group transformed the jail cells into exhibition spaces, and eventually purchased the building outright.

Do you have a local histor y question for The Public Record? Email it to thepublicrecord@inweekly.net & we’ll see what we can dig up.

news of the weird Laney Wallace, 16, won the beauty contest at the 53rd Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, in March and the next day fulfilled the first duty of her reign: to behead and skin a western diamondback. “You have to make sure you don’t pop the bladder,” the 2011 Miss Snake Charmer said shortly after taking a few swipes with a machete. “That (would be) a huge mess.” (Three years ago, News of the Weird informed readers of the annual beauty-contest/muskrat-skinning festival in Maryland’s Eastern Shore region, in which the “beauty” part and the “skinning” part are separate—but in which that year, two teenage girls entered both, with Dakota Abbott edging out Samantha Phillips for the crown.) Compelling Explanations Record companies have enjoyed recent successes in court by suing individuals who have shared music by trading files through specialized websites that avoid paying copyright licensing fees, including Lime Wire (which shut down last year). Thirteen record companies won a summary judgment last year, and, applying a formula they believe was set out in federal law, the companies demanded that Lime Wire pay damages of up to $75 trillion—an amount more than five times the entire national debt. In March 2011, a federal judge said the companies should modify the formula and lower their expectations. • Waterloo, Iowa, schoolteacher Larry Twigg was arrested for “lascivious conduct” with a teenager, a crime that requires proof of “sexual motivation.” Though Twigg allegedly had a teenage boy strip, take a chocolate syrup “bath,” make a “snow angel” while in his underwear, and play a video game nude, his lawyer said in March that the court-appointed psychiatrist would testify that Twigg had no sexual motivation. • Convicted heinous Minnesota sex offender John Rydberg, 69 and still detained after having served his sentence because he is still a “danger,” exhibited an upbeat demeanor for a three-judge panel in March, hoping for release. He said his number of victims was far fewer than the “94” he previously admitted to, explaining that he offered a purposely high number because he was afraid underplaying his crimes might make it appear that he was lying. “What can I say?” offered Rydberg. “I’m a work in progress.” Ironies On March 30, several hours before addressing the nation on TV about Libya, President Obama received a prestigious open-records award presented by five freedom-of-information advocate organizations for running a commendably “transparent,” accessible administration. However, news about this award came about only because the presenters leaked it to the press. As noted by The Washington Post the next day, there was no White House notice to the press; the presentation was not on the president’s calendar; no photos or transcript were available; and the award was not mentioned on the White House website.

By Chuck Sheppard

Go Figure: (1) The author of most of the text of The New York Times obituary on Elizabeth Taylor, published on March 23, was Times reporter Mel Gussow, who passed away almost six years before Taylor. (2) At George Washington University’s men’s basketball game on March 5, accountancy department professor Robert Kasmir was honored at halftime for being one of the elite financial donors to the university, but he was not around for the end of the game. He was ejected from the stands in the second half for harassing a referee about the officiating. Leading Economic Indicators Accord-

ing to a February 2011 analysis of 2007 IRS statistics by a columnist for Tax Notes, the average taxpayer residing in New York City’s posh Helmsley Building (owned before her death by Leona Helmsley, who once reportedly said that “only the little people pay taxes”) paid only 14.7 percent of his income in federal taxes while New York City janitors and security guards (such as those employed by the Helmsley Building) paid about 24 percent. Helmsley residents were taxed less for Social Security and Medicare, and much of their $1.17 million average income was in capital gains, which are taxed at the same rate as the wages of modestly paid (up to $34,000 a year) workers. • In February, Wisconsin state Rep. Gordon Hintz was caught up in an ongoing investigation of prostitution at the Heavenly Touch Massage Parlor in Appleton that resulted in six arrests. Police merely issued Hintz a municipal citation (indicating that he might just have been in the wrong place at the wrong time). Nonetheless, Hintz refused to discuss the matter. “I am willing to take responsibility for my actions,” he said, but “(m)y concern right now” is not to be “distract(ed) from the much more important issue” of “stand(ing) up for Wisconsin’s working families.”

Come Bowl with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida! Friday, April 29, 2011 @ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2011 @ 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 30, 2011 @ 7:30 p.m. Team goal is to raise a minimum of $500, which is only $84 per team member of 6 (includes two games, t-shirt, shoe rental & prizes!)

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The Litigious Society The family of the late Roger Kreutz filed a lawsuit in St. Louis in March over the fatal head injuries he received when a car knocked him down in a Starbucks parking lot in 2008. The driver was Aaron Poisson, who was trying to get away from Kreutz, but Poisson was not sued. According to the lawsuit, the cause of the fatal injury was negligence by Starbucks—because it had mindlessly placed its tip jar in full view on a counter, thus (according to the theory of the lawsuit) goading Poisson into snatching up the money and running out the door, and inspiring Kreutz, as a good Samaritan, to chase Poisson and try to retrieve the employees’ tips.

Send your Weird News to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to www.NewsoftheWeird.com. FROM UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE CHUCK SHEPHERD’S NEWS OF THE WEIRD by Chuck Shepherd COPYRIGHT 2011 CHUCK SHEPHERD

INDEPENDENT NEWS | APRIL 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |

A Salute to Difference makers The University of West Florida hosted an Honors Convocation April 1, paying tribute to outstanding students and faculty members at the university.

Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities Elyse Aldikacti – English Writing Kevin Arcelay – Psychology Kevin Bender – Anthropology Kelsey Blair – Public History Ashley Burton – Hospitality, Recreation, & Resort Management Andrya Crossland – International Studies and Communication Phillip Della Sala – Philosophy Ericka Cruz – Legal Studies Patricia Dent – Clinical Laboratory Science Kristen Dressel – Communication Arts Meagan Enderson – Public Relations Heather English – Nursing Andrew Gagliano – Communication Arts Lacey Frantz – Nursing Amy Gibson – Marketing Annie Godwin – Communication Arts Rachel Haarala – Counseling Psychology Gregory Hyzy – Fine Arts Victoria Judkins – Education Raeseen Kennedy – Legal Studies Shaneka Kent – Social Work Alexander Keyhani – Electrical Engineering Matthew Leak – Electrical Engineering Meagan McCool – Marketing Barbara Mixon – Criminal Justice Amanda Mize – Clinical Laboratory Science

Bailey Nickels – Hospitality Gabriel Odom – Economics Carolyn Palmer – Marketing Michele Raney – Public Health Carline Radius – Psychology Travis Roberts – Organizational Communications Natalie Rodriguez – Public Relations Danielle Rudd – Public Relations Lauren Samoszenko – Education Karen Saylor – Biology/PreProfessional Jessica Schaffer – Nursing Rebecca Smith – Mathematics Kimberly Spann – IT-Digital Media David Tatem – History Delisa Thompson – Communication Arts Tashonne Timson – Social Work Beverly Torres – Criminal Justice Chasidy Veltri – Elementary Education/ESOL Luminita Williams – Accounting Narcissus Willis – Health Care Administration Aneshia Wilson – Business Management Courtney Winn – Criminal Justice Jody Winters – Biology Outstanding Student Athlete Award Taylor Brewster – Psychology – Women’s Tennis Zachary North – Advertising – Men’s Baseball John C. Pace Scholars Ruth Ashley

Anna Bauer Cassandra Delgado Madison Fortenberry Joseph Napier Chelsea Renfroe Nicole Yeakos OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARDS College of Arts and Sciences Deborah Barkley – Chemistry Christopher Dewey – Maritime Studies Jeffrey Dykstra – Oceanography Jordan Frazier – Communication Arts Jordan Gilliland – Philosophy Savannah Goetsch – Mathematics Jodie Gray – Physics Donald Hill – Graphic Design Timothy Hoggard – Biology/PreProfessional Mary Johansen – Political Science Katrina Kaack – Marine Biology Colin Keohane – Anthropology Christina Kwon – Music Performance Stefan Lee – Computer Science Samantha McAlister – Health Sciences Sheila Mettetal – Theatre Amanda Mize – Clinical Laboratory Science Jessica Morris – English Kyla Mucci – Fine Arts Honey Nguyen – Interdisciplinary Sciences Anton Parker – Information Technology

Jennifer Reid – International Studies Carly Robbins – Psychology Hillary Shouppe – Nursing Michel Starr – Computer Engineering Martha Tye – History Brandon Walker – Electrical Engineering Ashley Weatherall – Environmental Science Lower Division Lauren Broeking – Nursing University Honors Program Ashley Weatherall – Environmental Studies College of Business Justin Anderson – Marketing James Harrison – Management Information Systems Nien-Chieh Lee – Professional Accounting Sarah Neuland – Management Gabriel Odom – Economics Nicholas Plonbom - Finance College of Professional Studies Teresa Barham – Middle/Jr High School Education Jason Burt - Network/Telecommunication Technology Cynthia Cabrera - Social Work Angela Elligson - Elementary Ed/ Reading Sean Gabrus - Sports Management Frederick Harris - Physical Education Sarah King - Athletic Training Paulo Longobardi - Building Construction Engineering

Barbara Mixon - Criminal Justice Nathania Pierre - Legal Studies Talia Rivas - Community Health Education Steven Schifter - Information Engineering Technology Anthony Schwab - Electrical Engineering Technology Mary Thomas - Career & Technical/ Vocational Program Development Rebecca Vath – Elementary Exceptional Student Education Amanda Williams - Exercise Science Melissa Williams - Hospitality, Recreation & Resort Management Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award Anna Carroll – English Kendra Kennedy – Anthropology HAL CROSBY AWARD Hillary Ann Ryan - Accounting Voyages Leadership Juliette Albesa – Health Science David Bell - Marketing Ashley Burton – Hospitality, Recreation and Resort Management Alvejes Desir – Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology Richette Gaines – Communication Arts Raeseen Kennedy – Legal Studies Candace Lewis – Middle School Education Dejah Wheatle – Communication Arts Jody Winters – Biology

2011 annual 2 0 1 1 museum a n n uof aartl pensacola

art in the park

President’s Award for Leadership in Diversity Diane Nguyen - Community Health Distinguished Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award Subhash Bagui – Mathematics & Statistics Ezzat G. Bakhoum – Electrical & Computer Engineering External Funding Award Recipients Wynn Teasley – Management & MIS Hui-Min Chung - Biology Distinguished Faculty Service Award Stacie Whinnery – Special Education Distinguished University Professors Kuiyuan Li – Mathematics & Statistics John Smykla - Criminal Justice Faculty Excellence in Teaching Or Advising Award Steve Belko - History Ron Belter - School of Psychological Behavioral Sciences Robin Blyn - English Patrick Moore - History Hedi Salanki-Rubardt - Music Steve Kass (Advising) – School of Psychological Behavioral Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award Scott Keller – Marketing & Economics Greg Tomso – English & Foreign Language Joycelyn Evans – Government Capt. Stefanie Emery-Hoffman – Air Force ROTC

Join us this spring at beautiful historic Seville Join us this spring at Square in downtown beautiful historic Seville Pensacola, FL Square in downtown

Pensacola, FL

• Featuring over 120 andover national •regional Featuring 120artists. regional

national artists. •and Full range of media including jewelry, • Full range of media photography, wood, oil & including jewelry, acrylic painting &wood, sculpture photography, oil &

acrylic painting & sculpture All proceeds from this willfrom benefit All festival proceeds this the festival Pensacola of Art, will benefitMuseum the Pensacola a 501(c)3 non-profit Museum of Art, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization organization

free admission to the public

10:00am - 5:00pm 10 am - 5 pm may 14 & 15, 2011 ( 8 5 0 ) 4 3 2 - 6 2 4 7 wpensacola, w w . p e n s aflorida c o l a m u s( 8 e5 u 0m) o4 f3a2 r- 6t 2 . o4 7 r g w w w. p e n s a c o l a m u s e u m o f a r t . o r g 26 | INDEPENDENT NEWS |

APRIL 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET

to advertise call 438-8115

classifieds

last word

GRAPHIC DESIGNER / MARKETING AND CREATIVE SERVICES / THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA

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The Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker HAPPY BIRTH DAY by Mark Slinger

The University of West Florida invites applicants to apply for the position of Graphic Designer, Marketing and Creative Services, Position #101540. This candidate will design primarily for print, with some web, and new media projects. Principal duties include concept development, design, and production. Typical projects include brochures, postcards, posters, invitations, newsletters, stationary, marketing and fundraising materials, electronic mail, web sites, web graphics and more. The ideal candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of design and typography; have knowledge of design software; have the ability to effectively manage multiple tasks under deadlines; and have excellent interpersonal skills both written and verbal. Minor web animation experience (Flash, JavaScript, etc.), working in a CMS environment, and experience with CSS, html, and xhtml coding a plus. Minimum qualifications are a master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and two years of appropriate experience. Applicants must apply online at HYPERLINK “https://jobs.uwf.edu” https:// jobs.uwf.edu and should be prepared to attach a cover letter, resume and names and contact information for three (3) professional references to the online application. The preferred response date for applications is April 19, 2011. Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to respond is requested to advise UWF by contacting the UWF ADA Office at 1-850-473-7469 (Voice) or 1-850-857-6114 (TTY). Additional information about the University of West Florida is available at www.uwf.edu. This position requires a criminal background screening. UWF is an Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action Employer.

ACROSS 1 Big-chair bear 5 Fastener on a trunk 9 A miner test? 14 In the center of 15 “Here ___, there ...” (“Old MacDonald” lyric) 16 Low card 17 “Reader’s Digest” co-founder Wallace 18 Shoulder of the road 19 Witty remarks 20 Meaningful silence 23 Accord trailer? 24 About half of all deliveries 25 Big bird of myth 28 Antenna housings 32 Morninglike 34 Vegas-to-NYC direction 35 Extremely dry 37 Small sorority letter? 38 1988 Edward James Olmos film 43 “The Da Vinci ___” 4 4 Character of sound 45 “What ___ you getting at?” 46 Break a habit, in a way 50 Most dried-out, as bread 52 CBS logo 53 Number-two exec 55 Practice “monkey see, monkey do” 56 Family film featuring twins 62 ___ City (Detroit nickname) 64 Blemish from not using a coaster 65 Add to the payroll 66 Finger-thrower’s call 67 “The Last Command” Oscar win-

Dion Guest

Executive Director, Baptist Health Care Foundation What is your chief characteristic? A “can-do” attitude. I honestly believe I can accomplish whatever I try...within reason. What do you appreciate most about your friends? Unwavering loyalty Who is your favorite fiction character? James Bond. I am a big fan of his sophisticated, nononsense style. Who is your favorite non-fiction character? Ronald Reagan. An inspirational leader with an unwavering belief in American exceptionalism.

Previous Puzzle answer

68 69 70 71

ner Jannings Area in “Risk” Extravagant way to live Badgered Security breach

DOWN 1 Crab’s sensor 2 Eastern title (Var.) 3 Carpet quality 4 At a slow tempo 5 Cuban dance in duple time 6 The last word in worship 7 Prepares for the wash 8 Cheerleader’s prop 9 Handle, as insurance claims 10 Large bodies of water 11 Starbursts 12 Big name in hardware stores 13 “I’d be delighted!” 21 Perpetual traveler 22 The Santa ___ winds 26 Spaghetti westerns 27 Red Bordeaux 28 “Baywatch” event 29 “Friends, Romans,

countrymen” character 30 It’s undeliverable 31 Confession component 33 “Rocky ___” (film with Mr. T) 36 Banned pesticide 39 Agatha Christie, ___ Miller 40 A couple in Mexico? 41 Involve in intrigue 42 Made like a frog 47 Strongly opposed (to) 48 Sales agent, for short 49 “___, My God, to Thee” 51 Worse than harmful 54 Of the best quality 57 ___ Kong 58 Bagnold or Blyton 59 Come up, as the moon 60 5-Down in “Carmen,” e.g. 61 Everything’s downhill from here 62 Actor Gibson 63 Eggs, in old Rome

What is the best thing you have ever won? When I was serving on tank crew in the middle of the desert in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm, I won a two-day stay on a cruise ship in Bahrain. What did your mother always tell you? To put God first in all things and be the spiritual leader of my home. What is the worst idea you’ve ever had? Going to Daytona, Fla. on college spring break and thinking I could sleep on the beach instead of getting a hotel room. What is your favorite food? Ice cream...and lots of it. Which talent would you most like to have? To be quick-witted and a great public speaker What movie do you love to watch repeatedly? “Dumb and Dumber” What TV show is your guilty pleasure? “24” What is the last book you read? “The Art of War”

INDEPENDENT NEWS | APRIL 14, 2011 | WWW.INWEEKLY.NET |